Sadface at Five

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Sadface at Five 
by J. A. Emanuel

How came sorrow to his eye? 
On the one-winged butterfly 
At orange half-mast on the twig?
In the black cat's grassy dig
And jungle knack that snatched the bird
Down from the limb? (No moan, 
no word for crippled notes: 
his leg alone 
felt knuckled denim 
at the bone.)

Or in the twist of traitor belt 
That whipped his lie, big martyr's welt,
the path he gave his friend to cross? 
Who took that baby boy? Whose loss
Will hug the pause in his embrace
And nurse the musing in his face 
So gravely alive?
Oh, Sadface at five.

(ca. 1964)      1964

Full description

Poem written by Emanuel in 1964, typed. Dedicated to his son. This poem portrays loss and disability through both animals and humans.

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  • type
    Image
  • created on
  • file format
    jpg
  • file size
    616 kB
  • container title
    James A. Emanuel Papers
  • creator
    James A. Emanuel
  • issue
    BOX 4 FOLDER 27, "The Chopping Block (Selected Poems), draft, 1988 (2 of 2)
  • rights
    James A. Emanuel Estate
  • rights holder
    James A. Emanuel Estate
  • version
    1964